1.gulp

2.clog

3.artery

4.bloat

5.kidnap

6.groom

7.prey

8.cargo

9. jerk

10.treadmill 

11.shatter

12. acrobatic

13. aggravate

14.moldy

15.curl

16.manual

17.slay

18.sibling

19.hatch

20.dense

1. Gulp /ɡʌlp

1.~ sth (down)to swallow large amounts of food or drink quickly狼吞虎咽；大口吞咽；匆匆吞下

He gulped down the rest of his tea and went out.他把剩下的茶一饮而尽便出去了。2.to swallow, but without eating or drinking anything, especially because of a strong emotion such as fear or surprise（因害怕或惊讶而）倒吸气

She gulped nervously before trying to answer.她紧张地倒吸了一口气才回答。

~ (for sth)~ sth (in)to breathe quickly and deeply, because you need more air深呼吸；喘大气；大口大口地吸气

She came up gulping for air .她气喘吁吁地走上前来。

He leant against the car, gulping in the cold air.他倚着汽车大口大口地呼吸冷空气。

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2.clog  /klɒɡ/ ( -gg- )

[ VN] [ often passive]~ (up) (with sth)~ sth (up) (with sth)to block sth or to become blocked（使）阻塞，堵塞

The narrow streets were clogged with traffic.狭窄的街道上交通堵塞。

Tears clogged her throat.她哽咽了。

[ V]Within a few years the pipes began to clog up.没有几年管子就开始堵塞了

3.ar·tery n.  /ˈɑːtəri/ ( pl.-ies)

1.any of the tubes that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body动脉

blocked arteries被阻滞的动脉

——comparevein(1)

——see alsocoronary artery

2.a large and important road, river, railway/railroad line, etc.干线（指主要公路、河流、铁路线等）

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4.Bloat v.  /bləʊt/

[ V]to swell or make sth swell, especially in an unpleasant way（使）膨胀，肿胀

•Her features had been bloated by years of drinking.她酗酒多年，已变得面部浮肿。

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5.kid·nap v.  /ˈkɪdnæp/

( -pp-NAmE also-p-)

[ VN] to take sb away illegally and keep them as a prisoner, especially in order to get money or sth else for returning them劫持；绑架

SYNabductseize

•Two businessmen have been kidnapped by terrorists.两名商人遭恐怖分子绑架。

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6.groom  /ɡruːm/

1.[ VN] to clean or brush an animal（给动物）擦洗，刷洗

to groom a horse/dog/cat刷洗马╱狗╱猫

The horses are all well fed and groomed.这些马都喂得饱饱的，刷洗得干干净净。

2.[ VN] ( of an animal动物 ) to clean the fur or skin of another animal or itself（给自己或其他动物）理毛，梳毛

a female ape grooming her mate为同伴梳毛的母猿

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3.~ sb (for/as sth)to prepare or train sb for an important job or position使作好准备；培养；训练

[ VN]Our junior employees are being groomed for more senior roles.我们的初级雇员正在接受培训以承担更重要的职责。

[ VN to inf]The eldest son is being groomed to take over when his father dies.长子正在接受培养，以在父亲过世后接手父业。

4.[ VN] ( of a person who is sexually attracted to children对儿童有性兴趣的人 ) to prepare a child for a meeting, especially using an Internet chat room , with the intention of performing an illegal sexual act为约会（儿童）做准备，引诱（尤指利用互联网聊天室进行非法性活动）

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7.prey  /preɪ/

[ Using.]1.an animal, a bird, etc. that is hunted, killed and eaten by another猎物

The lion will often stalk its prey for hours.狮子经常悄然跟踪猎物达几个小时。

birds of prey (= birds that kill for food) 猛禽

2.a person who is harmed or tricked by sb, especially for dishonest purposes受害者；受骗者

Elderly people are easy prey for dishonest salesmen.老年人容易上狡诈推销员的当。

IDIOMS 习语

1.be/fall ˈprey to sth( formal )

(1) ( of an animal动物 ) to be killed and eaten by another animal or bird被捕食；成为猎物

(2) ( of a person人 ) to be harmed or affected by sth bad受害；受坏影响

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8.cargon.  /ˈkɑːɡəʊ/

( pl.-oesNAmE also-os)

[ CU]the goods carried in a ship or plane（船或飞机装载的）货物

•The tanker began to spill its cargo of oil.油轮已开始漏油。

•a cargo ship货船

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9.jerk  /dʒɜːk/

[ alsoVN-ADJ] [ usually+ adv./prep.] to move or to make sth move with a sudden short sharp movement急拉；猛推；猝然一动

[ VN]He jerked the phone away from her.他猛然一下从她那儿把电话抢走。

She jerked her head up.她猛然抬起头来。

[ V]•The bus jerked to a halt.那辆公共汽车猛地一颠停下了。

•He grabbed a handful of hair and jerked at it.他抓住一把头发猛拉。

PHRASAL VERBS 短语动词

1.ˌjerk sb aˈround

( informal ) ( especially NAmE ) to make things difficult for sb, especially by not being honest with them（尤指通过不诚实的手段）给某人出难题，为某人设置障碍，为难某人

•Consumers are often jerked around by big companies.顾客经常受大公司的捉弄。

2.ˌjerk ˈoff

( tabooslang) ( of a man男子 ) to masturbate行手淫

3.ˌjerk ˈoutˌjerk sth←→ˈout

to say sth in a quick and awkward way because you are nervous（紧张得）急促而断续地说出，结结巴巴地说

10.tread·mill n.  /ˈtredmɪl/

1.[ sing.]work or a way of life that is boring or tiring because it involves always doing the same things枯燥无味的工作（或生活方式）

•I'd like to escape the office treadmill.我想摆脱办公室的枯燥工作。

2.[ C](especially in the past) a large wheel turned by the weight of people or animals walking on steps around its inside edge, and used to operate machinery（尤指旧时由人或牲畜踩动踏板使之转动的）踏车

3.[ C]an exercise machine that has a moving surface that you can walk or run on while remaining in the same place（锻炼身体的）跑步机，走步机

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11.shat·ter v.  /ˈʃætə(r)/

1.~ (sth) (into sth)to suddenly break into small pieces; to make sth suddenly break into small pieces（使）破碎，碎裂

[ V]He dropped the vase and it shattered into pieces on the floor.他失手把花瓶掉到地板上摔碎了。

•the sound of shattering glass玻璃破碎的声音

[ VN]•The explosion shattered all the windows in the building.大楼所有的玻璃都在爆炸中震碎了。

2.~ (sth) (into sth)to destroy sth completely, especially sb's feelings, hopes or beliefs; to be destroyed in this way（使感情、希望或信念等）粉碎，破灭；被粉碎；被破坏

[ VN]

Anna's self-confidence had been completely shattered.安娜的自信心彻底崩溃了。

Her experience of divorce shattered her illusions about love.她的离婚经历使她对爱情的幻想破灭了。

[ V]My whole world shattered into a million pieces.我的整个世界全塌了。

3.[ VN] to make sb feel extremely shocked and upset使极为惊愕难过；给予极大打击

The unexpected death of their son shattered them.儿子的意外死亡给他们带来沉重的打击。

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12.acro·batn.  /ˈækrəbæt/

an entertainer who performs difficult acts such as balancing on high ropes, especially at a circus杂技演员

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13.ag·gra·vate v.  /ˈæɡrəveɪt/

[ VN]1.to make an illness or a bad or unpleasant situation worse使严重；使恶化

SYNworsen

•Pollution can aggravate asthma.污染会使气喘加重。

•Military intervention will only aggravate the conflict even further.军事介入只会使冲突加剧。

2.( informal ) to annoy sb, especially deliberately（尤指故意地）激怒，惹恼

14.moldy mold, molder, molding, moldy

( NAmE )

= mouldmouldermouldingmouldy

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15.curl  /kɜːl/

1.to form or make sth form into a curl or curls卷；（使）拳曲，鬈曲

[ V] His hair curls naturally.他的头发天生鬈曲。

[ alsoVN ]2.[ usually+ adv./prep.] to form or make sth form into a curved shape（使）成拳曲状；蜷缩

[ V]•The cat curled into a ball and went to sleep.那只猫蜷缩成一团睡着了。

[ VN]•She curled her legs up under her.她盘腿坐着。

3.[ usually+ adv./prep.] to move while forming into a twisted or curved shape; to make sth do this（使）呈螺旋（或卷曲）状移动；（使）旋绕；缭绕

[ V]•The smoke curled steadily upwards.烟袅袅上升。

[ VN]•He turned and curled the ball around the goalkeeper.他转身把球一盘，绕过了守门员。

4.[ VVN] if you curl your lip or your lip curls , you move your lip upwards and sideways to show that you think sb/sth is stupid or that you are better than they are撅起（嘴唇）；撇（嘴）

IDM see toen.

PHRASAL VERBS 短语动词

1.ˌcurl ˈupbe ˌcurled ˈup

to lie or sit with your back curved and your arms and legs bent close to your body蜷曲着坐（或躺）

•She curled up and closed her eyes.她蜷成一团，闭上了眼睛。

2.ˌcurl ˈupˌcurl sb ˈup

( BrE informal ) to become or make sb become very embarrassed（使）感到十分尴尬

3.ˌcurl ˈupˌcurl sth←→ˈup

to form or make sth form into a tightly curled shape（使）形成紧紧的卷曲状

•The paper started to shrivel and curl up in the heat.那张纸在高温下开始起皱卷曲。

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16.man·ual  /ˈmænjuəl/

1.( of work, etc.工作等 ) involving using the hands or physical strength用手的；手工的；体力的

•manual labour/jobs/skills 体力劳动╱活儿；手工技巧

•manual and non-manual workers体力劳动者和非体力劳动者

2.operated or controlled by hand rather than automatically or using electricity, etc.手动的；手控的；用手操作的

•a manual gearbox手动变速箱

•My camera has manual and automatic functions.我的照相机有手调和自动两种功能。

3.connected with using the hands手工的；用手的

•manual dexterity手的灵巧

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17.slay  v.  /sleɪ/ ( slew/sluː/ slain/sleɪn/ )

[ VN]1.( old-fashioned) ( literary) to kill sb/sth in a war or a fight（在战争或搏斗中）杀，杀死

•St George slew the dragon.圣乔治杀死了那条龙。

2.( especially NAmE ) ( used especially in newspapers尤用于报章 ) to murder sb杀害；残害；谋杀

•Two passengers were slain by the hijackers.两名乘客遭劫机者杀害。

3.( old-fashionedinformal ) ( especially NAmE ) to have a strong effect on sb深深打动；迷住

•Those old movies still slay me!那些老影片依旧让我着迷！

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18.sib·ling  n.  /ˈsɪblɪŋ/ or  ( formal )( technical 术语)

a brother or sister兄；弟；姐；妹

•squabbles between siblings兄弟姐妹间的口角

• sibling rivalry (= competition between brothers and sisters) 兄弟姐妹间的竞争

19.hatch  /hætʃ/

1.[ V] ~ (out)( of a young bird, fish, insect, etc.小鸟、小鱼、小虫等 ) to come out of an egg孵出；出壳

•Ten chicks hatched (out) this morning.今早有十只小鸡出壳了。

2.[ V] ~ (out)( of an egg蛋 ) to break open so that a young bird, fish, insect, etc. can come out孵化；破壳

•The eggs are about to hatch.这些蛋就要孵化了。

3.[ VN] to make a young bird, fish, insect, etc. come out of an egg使（小鸟、小鱼、小虫等）孵出

•The female must find a warm place to hatch her eggs.母的必须找个温暖的地方孵蛋。

4.[ VN] ~ sth (up)to create a plan or idea, especially in secret策划；（尤指）密谋

•Have you been hatching up a deal with her?你是不是在和她密谋什么交易？

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20.dense adj.  /dens/ ( dens·erdens·est)

1.containing a lot of people, things, plants, etc. with little space between them密集的；稠密的

•a dense crowd/forest 密集的人群；密林

•areas of dense population人口密集地区

2.difficult to see through浓密的；浓重的

SYNthick

•dense fog/smoke/fumes 浓雾╱烟；浓烈的气体

3.( informal ) stupid愚笨的；迟钝的；笨拙的

•How can you be so dense?你怎么会这么笨？

4.difficult to understand because it contains a lot of information（信息量大得）难理解的，难懂的

•a dense piece of writing难懂的文章

5.( technical 术语)heavy in relation to its size密度大的；密实的

•Less dense substances move upwards to form a crust.密度小的物质向上浮动并形成一层皮。

1. He took a big gulp of water after the long run.

   他跑了很长时间后大口地喝了一大口水。

2. The drain was clogged with leaves and mud.

   排水口被树叶和泥堵塞了。

3. The coronary artery supplies blood to the heart.

   冠状动脉向心脏供血。

4. After eating too much, he felt bloated and uncomfortable.

   吃得太多后，他感到胀满和不舒服。

5. The criminals attempted to kidnap the wealthy businessman's son.

   罪犯企图绑架这位富商的儿子。

6. The groom looked handsome in his wedding suit.

   新郎穿着婚礼礼服显得英俊。

7. Lions often hunt in packs, targeting weaker prey.

   狮子经常成群结队地猎食，以较弱的猎物为目标。

8. The ship carried a cargo of electronic equipment.

   这艘船载着一批电子设备。

9. She gave a quick jerk on the rope to pull it tight.

   她迅速地用绳索来一个急拉，把它拉紧。

10. She exercises on the treadmill for an hour every day.

    她每天在跑步机上锻炼一个小时。

11. The vase fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

    花瓶掉到地板上摔碎成了碎片。

12. The acrobatic performance was breathtaking and impressive.

    杂技表演令人叹为观止，令人印象深刻。

13. His comments only served to aggravate the situation.

    他的评论只会加剧局势。

14. The bread had gone moldy and was no longer edible.

    面包发霉了，已经不能吃了。

15. She used a curling iron to create beautiful curls in her hair.

    她用卷发棒给头发卷出了漂亮的卷发。

16. The company provides a manual with instructions for assembly.

    公司提供了一本包含组装说明的操作手册。

17. The hero managed to slay the dragon and rescue the princess.

    英雄成功杀死了龙，解救了公主。

18. The siblings often played together in the backyard.

    兄弟姐妹经常一起在后院玩耍。

19. The eggs in the nest began to hatch, and the baby birds emerged.

    巢里的蛋开始孵化，小鸟们出生了。

20. The forest was so dense that very little light could penetrate through the trees.

    森林非常密集，几乎没有光线透过树木。

Once upon a time, in a dense forest, a group of acrobatic performers embarked on an adventurous journey. As they made their way through the thick foliage, they encountered a cargo of valuable artifacts that had been abandoned. Excitement filled the air as they carefully examined each item, their eyes filled with wonder at the treasures before them.

Among the artifacts was an ancient scroll that contained instructions for a magical treadmill. Eager to test its powers, they quickly set it up and took turns running on the treadmill. With each stride, their hearts would race, and their muscles would flex. But suddenly, there was a jerk, and the treadmill came to a halt. It seemed the intense exercise had caused it to clog and malfunction.

Undeterred by this setback, the performers decided to continue their journey. As they ventured deeper into the forest, they stumbled upon an old cabin, seemingly abandoned. Curiosity got the better of them, and they cautiously entered. Inside, they discovered a moldy journal that revealed a dark secret.

The journal described a notorious gang of criminals known for their ability to kidnap individuals and demand hefty ransoms. The leader of the gang was known as "The Groom" due to his impeccable appearance and charm. His victims were like prey, helpless in his clutches.

As the performers read on, their determination grew stronger. They realized they had to put an end to the gang's reign of terror. With their acrobatic skills, they devised a plan to rescue the kidnapped victims and bring justice to the perpetrators.

Utilizing their manual dexterity and agility, the performers infiltrated the gang's hideout. The tension was palpable as they confronted the criminals one by one. Each encounter seemed to aggravate the situation, but they remained steadfast in their mission.

With a swift and coordinated effort, they managed to slay the gang and free the captives. Among the rescued individuals were long-lost siblings who had been separated for years. Tears of joy flowed as they embraced each other, grateful for their newfound freedom.

Their heroic actions didn't go unnoticed. News of their bravery spread like wildfire, and they became local legends. The dense forest that once harbored darkness was now a symbol of hope and resilience.

And so, the performers returned to their acrobatic routines, basking in the glory of their triumph. They realized that their journey had not only brought them adventure but also a sense of purpose and unity.

In the end, they learned that sometimes, even in the face of adversity, a single act of courage can shatter the chains of fear and bring light to the darkest corners of the world.

译文：

从前，在茂密的森林里，一群杂技演员踏上了冒险之旅。当他们穿过茂密的树叶时，他们遇到了一批被遗弃的珍贵文物。当他们仔细检查每一件物品时，空气中充满了兴奋，他们的眼睛里充满了对眼前宝藏的惊奇。

在这些文物中，有一幅古老的卷轴，上面有一种神奇跑步机的使用说明。为了测试它的能力，他们很快就把它安装好，轮流在跑步机上跑步。每迈一步，他们的心跳就会加速，肌肉就会收缩。但突然，有一个猛拉，跑步机停了下来。似乎是剧烈的运动导致了它的堵塞和故障。

演员们没有被这次挫折吓倒，决定继续他们的旅程。当他们冒险深入森林时，他们偶然发现了一间看起来被遗弃的旧小屋。好奇心战胜了他们，他们小心翼翼地走了进去。在里面，他们发现了一本发霉的日记，里面揭露了一个黑暗的秘密。

该杂志描述了一个臭名昭著的犯罪团伙，他们以绑架个人并索要巨额赎金而闻名。该团伙的头目因其无可挑剔的外表和魅力而被称为“新郎”。他的受害者就像猎物，在他的魔爪下无助。

随着表演者继续朗读，他们的决心越来越坚定。他们意识到必须结束那帮匪徒的恐怖统治。他们用他们的杂技技巧设计了一个计划，以解救被绑架的受害者，并将肇事者绳之以法。

表演者利用他们灵巧的双手和敏捷性潜入了黑帮的藏身之处。当他们一个接一个地面对罪犯时，紧张气氛显而易见。每一次遭遇似乎都使局势恶化，但他们仍然坚定不移地执行任务。

通过迅速和协调的努力，他们成功地杀死了这伙人，释放了俘虏。获救的人中有失散多年的兄弟姐妹。他们拥抱在一起，为新获得的自由而感激，喜极而泣。

他们的英雄行为并没有被忽视。他们勇敢的事迹不胫而走，成为当地的传奇人物。茂密的森林曾经是黑暗的避难所，现在是希望和坚韧的象征。

于是，表演者们回到了他们的杂技表演中，沉浸在胜利的荣耀中。他们意识到，他们的旅程不仅给他们带来了冒险，也给他们带来了使命感和团结。

最后，他们明白了，有时候，即使面对逆境，一个勇敢的举动也能打破恐惧的枷锁，给世界最黑暗的角落带来光明。